VIE POLITIQUE ET MILITAIRE DE NAPOLEON

 

ARNAULT, Antoine Vincent, and Charles Etienne Pierre Motte.  VIE POLITIQUE ET MILITAIRE DE NAPOLEON.                                    

Paris: Libraire Historique, 1826. Elephantine Folio (515 x 340 mm). Later nineteenth-century half-morocco, marbled boards. Title leaf, 132 of 134 hand-colored plates, plus 1 oil painting and 1 folding board game tipped in. [Benezit, VII, 570; Brunet, I, 490].

A rare work in the book arts.  This copy of Arnault's book is a superb piece of art, and an extraordinary visual record of Napoleon's political and military record.  Antoine Arnault (1766-1834), was a French  playwright who was closely associated with Napoleon from 1797 when he was commissioned by Napoleon to organize the Ionian Islands, and was nominated to the Institute and made Secretary General of the University.  He was faithful to his patron through his misfortunes, and after the Hundred Days remained in exile until 1819.  He collaborated with Charles Motte (1785-1836), who was one of the first great lithographers of France - his first great work which is an exemplary commemoration of Napoleon's life, military and political careers.  

These illustrations are original drawings by the premier painters in the l'Ecole Franciase -- such as Adam, Bellange, Bernie, Colin, Decamps, Desmarets, Gericault, Gudin, Marin, Rulmann, Vernet, Weber, etc.   The plates are nicely colored and represent Napoleon's life and career from the beginning of his career until his death at St. Helena -- including two portraits (one on horseback and one standing); his arrival in France; Siege of Toulon; Prisoner; Entrance into Milan; Fete in Milan; Battle of Rivoli; Reception for the Directoire; Battle of the Pyramids; Battle of Montebello; Treaty with the United States (Louisiana Purchase); Institution of the Legion of Honour; His coronation as Emperor at Notre Dame in Paris; Battle of Austerlitz; Entrance into Berlin; Renunciation of Josephine as his Wife; Marriage to the Austrian Princess Marie Louise; Birth of his son the "King of Rome;" Battle of Moscow; Fire of Moscow, and Retreat from Moscow; Battle of Leipzig; Departure from Fontainbleau; and His death on St. Helena.  The colors on the uniforms that appear on every print are accurate to the period.  In addition to the plates that come with the volume, this copy also has an anonymous oil painting of Napoleon bound in the book along with a folding printed board game about Napoleon's life.  The first volume was printed in 1822 and was primarily the text volume, while the second volume that we have is primarily the plate volume.  Volume one (136 and 173 pages) was primarily the text and is lacking.   There was a four-volume quarto edition printed in Brussels between 1825 and 1827.  Title leaf remargined; tear in one plate has been professionaly repaired.  Very fine edition.

 

$12,500.00